Apparatus for lifting or circulating liquids



y 1, 1930- c. F. HAMMOND 1,769,833

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING OR CIRCULATING LIQUIDS Filed Sept. 4, 1926 .5Sheets-Sheet l APPARATUS FOR LIFTING OR CIRCULATING LIQUIDS Filed Sept.4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 All 5 July 1, 1930.

c F. HAMMOND APPARATUS FOR LIFTING OR CIRCULATING LIQUIDS 3 Sheets-Sheet5 Filed Sept. 4, 1926 6w WWW .50 Way of example,

Patented July 1, 1930 cnon. FEATHEBSTONE HAMMOND, or LONDON, ENGLAND,ASSIGNOR or ONE-FIFTH TO WILLIAM SHACKLETON, OF LONDON, ENGLANDAPPARATUS FOR LIFTING OR CIRCULATING LIQUIDS Application filed September4, 19:;6, Serial No. 133,683, and in Great Britain September 5, 1925.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for lifting orcirculating water or other liquid. The object of this invention is toprovide simple pieces of apparatus adaptedon the one hand for the directappli-' cation of flame to the liquid, in order to obtain the mosteflicient heating thereof, and on the other hand,-for the directapplication of the gases of combustion to a portion of the body of suchliquid for the purposes of effecting a lift of such {portion either forcirculation purposes or or raising purposes.

The liquid to be lifted or circulated may be water or a material whichlike water, is normally liquid, or it may be a material which isnormally solid and liquefies only upon the application of heat, Lead,zinc, and other metals or alloys are examples of the latter materials,and, for some purposes, a mass of molten lead kept in active circulationcan be used very advantageously for carrying out treatments oroperations in industrial processes. When water is circulated or lifted,the body of water lifted or in rapid circula- 2 tion may be employed forthe heating of rooms, buildings and so on, or the circulation may bepromoted within a boiler and constitute part of a system of steamgeneration, as will be readily understood.

body of liquid is suitably enclosed by an enclosure having-an inlet andoutlet and a submerged burner extends into the enclosure,

- whereby the flame from the burner directly heats the enclosed portionof liquid, and the products of combustion escaping into such portion,lighten it, so that it is lifted in accordance with the principle of anair lift pump. When the gases of combustion are employed for raisingliquids to a height, they ascend a rising pipe and escape with theliquid. When such gases, however, are employed for circulation purposes,they are separated and drawn oif' from the circulatory system within theapparatus. 7

In order to enable the invention to be readily understood, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings illustrating several differentconstructions and arrangements by in which draw1ngs:-

According to this invention a portion of a depth below the level 6-6.

Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic representation of a very simpleapplication of a submerged burner for effecting heating and circulationof a body of liquid.

F lgure 2 is a sectional elevation of a more elaborate piece ofapparatus adapted for heating and circulating a liquid, moreparticularly a heavy liquid such as molten" lead.

Figure 3 is an elevation, to a smalleikscale, of the apparatus,illustrated in Figure 2 as seen when fitted with mechanical means forraising and lowering the burner.

Figure 4 is an irregular vertical section on the line IV-IV of Figure 5,of a modified construction adapted for being lowered into a bath, pot orcrucible for heating and circulating the liquid mass therein.

Flgure 5 is a horizontal section on the line VV of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevation, to a smaller scale of the apparatusillustrated in Figures 4 and 5 as seen when applied to a pot or crucibleand fitted with mechanical means for raising and lowering the burner andtop or cover part of the apparatus.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic sect ona-l views showing threedifferent applica tions ofthe invention to water-raising means.

Referring to Figure 1, a is a container in which the liquid level standsat the line bb and c is an open ended cylinder suitably supported Withinthe container and enclosing a portion of the body ofliquid. Within thecontainer there is suspended a burner tube d, which extends downwardsinto the cylinder 0 so that its nozzle is submerged at a suitable roundthe burner tube d there may be provided an' annular cowl or deflector esituated above the upper end of the cylinder 0 when the burner is inworking position. A flue pipe connection f is provided at or near thetop of the container at.

The operation is as follows :.-The burner d, which is supplied with anysuitable fuel, and with air under pressure, is ignited and lowered intothe position shown in Figure l. The pressure of the air supply, andpossibly also the fuel supply, must be sufiicient for maintainingcombustion when submergence' of the burner nozzle is efiected to thedesired ll tubular part k.

depth. The flame of the burner heats by direct contact the liquidenclosed in the cylinder and the products of combustion escape upwardlywithin the said cylinder. C rculation is then promoted in accordancewth' the air lift principle, for the gases within the column of liquidlighten the latter so that 1t is caused to rise within the cylinder inaccordance with the weight of this column as compared with the weight ofthe column outside the cylinder 0. This rising of the column is alsoassisted by the heat concentrated within the cylinder 0. Consequently,the column rising within the cylinder 0 overflows the upper edgethereof, the overflow 1o1n1ng t e remainder of the mass in thecontamenand there being a free and constant influx at the lower end ofthe cylinder 0 to take the place of the liquid displaced and deliveredat the 90 top thereof. Any liquid carried up ,to the deflector e is castdown by the latter on to the mass beneath.

If the liquid in the container a is water and steam is generated, suchsteam may be drawn oil at f with the products of combustion, and be madeuse of, as for heating purposes. r the body of liquid itselfmay be drawnoff and passed through heaters and returned to the container. Finally,if the liquid is a molten metal or alloy,

suitable use may be made of it for the purpose of directly or indirectlyheating some other body or medium.

The apparatus seen in Figure 2 is a circulator which is adapted to beconnecte'd'to a container, such as tank or pot, for heating andcirculating a liquid body contained therein. This circulator comprises acylindrical body 9 having an enlarged upper portion h, the bottom of thecylindrical body being fitted with an elbow g for connection with thelower part of the tank or pot. The enlarged upper portion h is formedwith a radial connection h adapted for connection with a duct leadingfrom an upper part of the tank or pot. The cylindrical wall of the part9 is continued upwards into the enlarged upper part h so as toprovidefan upstanding wall 9' and the connection hcommunicates with theannularspace surrounding such wall 9. The cover 7' of this apparatus isformed with a dome part 7" within which depends a central tubular partforming agulde and holder for a burner I inserted through the part k soas to depend well Within the cylindrical body part g. The body of theburner may be a formed withgrooves to receive packing rings m for makinga tight joint between the burner and tubular part is. A flat seating 9'for the bolting on of a flue pipe 7' is provided at one tion collectingin the dome may be carried ofi. To prevent splashes or particles ofliquid from being carried by the ases into the flue, a deflector n isfitted or Earmed around the side of the dome 7" so that gases of combus-The circulator is very advantageous when employed for heating andcirculating a body of molten lead. In this case, the normal level of themolten lead may be at the line X-X. J For enabling the dross andimpurities to be removed from the lead from time 0 to time, the wall ofthe enlarged part it is formed with a hand hole which is closed tightlby :1. lug 0 or hand-hole cover. This handole being situated at thelevel XX, the raking of the surface of the lead, after removal of theplug 0, can he carried out in an expeditious manner.

Assuming that the circulator is employed for heating and circulatingmolten metal such as lead or zinc, the elbow g communicates with thebottom or lower part of the bath and the connection h communicates withthe upper part of such bath, the normal level of the molten metal beingat X-X as aforesaid. The burner 1, after being ignited is lowered, andsubmerged beneath the surface of the, lead which is heated by directflame contact. Due to the central heating and to the gases of combustionlightening the column within the cylindrical body 9 and wall 9 the 'liuid rises and overflows the rim of the wal g and enters the annularspace surrounding such wall, bein carried away to the upper part of thebat ,through the connection h. Liquid at a lower temperature is suppliedcontinuously through the elbow g from the lower part of the bath. Thegases of combustion separate from the liquid above the level X-X andpass around the deflector n up into the dome 7". They may be conductedinto any suitable economizer or pre-heater by the flue pipe j which isbolted on at j as above described.

For vertically adjusting and completely lifting or lowering the burnerl, mechanism-"- such as that illustrated in Figure 3 may be employed. Inthis example. there is erected on the cover j a standard p having abearing at the top for a nut g which is permitted to n revolve but notto move endwise. A screw r works in the nut and serves for thesuspension of the burner l. -Any suitable means may be adoptedto-prevent revolution of the screw. A bevel wheel 8 connected with the 15 nut q meshes with a bevel wheel t on a shaft u housed within thestandard A handwheel 'v at the lower end of the shaft u serves foradjusting the burner 1 through the toothed gear andserew mechanism abovedescribed. A

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate a modified construction of circulator which isada ted for be ng lowered into a ot, bath, or ot er conta1ner w,F1gure6. s in the preceding construction, this circulator comprises acylindrical part g connected with an" upper enlarged part h, thecylindrical part being extended upwardly to provide an upstanding wall gwithin the part h. Insteadof a cover boltd'down on to the part h, as inFigures mto which the skirt :1!

vented from moving endwise.

2 and 3, the covers in this modification is formed with a skirt :0 sothat it is of bell-like formation. Around the wall of the upper art Itthere is formed an annular well 3 de ends when the cover a: islowereduntil we 5 or projection w on its inner surface rest upon the topof the cylindrical wall of the part b, as seen in Figure 4, The topportion of the part' it, may be provided on the outside with webs orribs h for centering and guiding the skirt an. The cover :1: is' formedcentrally with a depending tubular burner holder or casing is, andaround the latter a cowl or deflector a is provided for the same purposeas the defiector n in Figure 2. The top portion of the cover :2:provides a dome-like space for the collection of the ases of combustion,but instead of these eing carried away by a flue connected to the coveras described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, an annular flue space yis formed around the cylindrical part 9 and just beneath the enlargedupper part It, and vertical flues or ducts z communicate between thedome space of the cover and the annular flue space y. The flues or ducts5 may be formed integrally on the inner side of the upper portion of thewall It, as illustrated. The gases of com th bustion are carried awayfrom the annular flue y by means of the uptake 1 which can be connectedto any suitable flue pipe. Upper ports 2 are formed in the wall of thewell 3 and lower ports 3 are formed in the lower part of the wall it.

Figure 6 illustrates the application of this circulator to a pot 'w, thebody part being suspended within the pot by lowering it until the flange5 thereon comes to rest upon the rim of the pot. Columns 6 support across beam 7 providedvat mid-length with a hearing for a nut g which isrevoluble but pre I A screw 7* working in the nut g is connected -with abridle 8, and the cover an is suitably suspended from the bridle. Avertical shaft u in one of the columns with the spindle of a lower end,and carries a toothed'wheel t at. its upper end meshing with toothedgearing for revolving the nut g.

The operation is as follows: Let it be assumed that the pot w containsmolten lead, the level of which is about at the line X-X, and that thecover :0 is in the elevated position shownin Figure 6. The burnerinserted in the tubular holder is is ignited and the hand wheel 1) isoperated to lower the cover a: to the position seen in Figure 4. Theheat of the burner flame applied directly to the molten mass within thecylindrical part 9, and the gasification of the column by the productsof combustion entering the same, produces, or brings about a rising ofthe column as already explained so that the molten produced by the lead'bly admitted and 6 is suitably geared" hand wheel '0 at the well 3 sothat a liquid seal is formed at'the I lower edge of the skirt m of thebell-like cover a. This construction afiords immediate access to theparts, as the effective seal enables'bolts and fas tening means to bedispensed with.

In any one of the foregoing constructions,

the mixture supplied to the burner can be adjusted so that there is noexcess of oxygen and consequently none to spare for combination with thematerial being treated. Thus, when molten lead or even molten zinc, isemployed, no oxides need be produced by the flame and products from thesubmerged burner. If desired, a thermostatic or pyrometric control oftheburner may be provided to prevent excessive mass.

' Figure 7 illustrates one application of e invention to an air-liftpump device.

heating of the liquid According to this arrangement, 10 is a tank towhich water is suita-.

inserted or'closed container 11 is a burner through a branch ofthe'rising pipe 12 so as to be submer ed in the water beneath the levelX-X. above through a suitable pipe or pipes, not shown, under a suitablepressure. It will'be seen, therefore, that the products of combustionaerate or gasify the column in the lower part of the rim sequently ascens in the pipe 12 and is discharged at the top. K The modification inFigure 8 is suitable for being lowered beneath the surface oi water inan open well, and in this case the burner 11 is enclosed in a hood orhell 13. The burner is suitabl supplied with combustible mixture, orwith fuel and air, under a suitable pressure. The lower end of the pipe12 is connected with a tubular fi which passes through'the hood 13 andis of vena contracta form, the u per portion 14 contracting downwardlywithin the hood and the lower portion 15 expanding or flaring downwardlyand extending down beyond the bottom edge of the hood 13. The portion 14is formed just beneath the top of the hood with openings or perforations16. When the burner 11 is ignited, the products of combustion within thehood escape through the openings or perforations 16 into the column andaerate or gasify it. As soon as ascending movement is obtained in therising pi 12, there is a reduction of pressure at t e he burner 11 issupplied from P P The column conmgne pipe liquid at the constriction,and consequently there is a strong inducement for the gases ofcombustion to pass into the column for the further aeration of theliquid therein and the consequent production of the air lift actionalready explained.

According to the modification in Figure 9, the burner 11 is suspendedwithin a tubular part 17 fitted to the lower end of the rising 12, thelower end of the part 17 being of greater diameter than the upper partwhich is connected to the rising) ipe 12. The burner 11 com rises a longtu u ar combustion chamber ormed with a nozzle 11 and fed withcombustible mixture which passes down the supply and mixing pipe 18 athigh velocity. The tubular part 17 and burner 11 after ignition beingsuspended at a suitable depth below the surface of the liquid to beraised, the products of combustion aerate the column within the part 17and I rising ipe 12 so that an ascending movement 0 the liquid to asuitable delivery is obtained.

I claim 1. An air-lift elevator comprising a lift tube, a burner holderfor suspending a burner within said tube and with the nozzle of suchburner submerged beneath the normal level of liquid within such tube,and an annular deflector around such burner holder at a level above theopen upper end of said lift tube, substantially as set forth.

2. An air lift elevator, comprising a cover device, a lift tubesuspended from said device, a burner holder depending from said coverinto and concentrically with said tube, exhaust flue means inassociation with said cover, a sealed enclosure around the head of saidlift tube, said enclosure being provided with deliveries for the liquidoverflowing from the head of said lift tube, substantially as set forth.3. Apparatus for elevating liquids accordmg to the air-lift principle,comprising a contamer fora body of liquid, a tube having its lower endcommunicating with such container, a submerged flame burner supportedwithin said tube, an enclosed chamber at a higher level than the upperend of said tube, and an outlet for products of combustion from saidchamber.

4. Liquid circulatory system in which liquid is elevated according tothe air-lift principle, comprising a closed container for a body ofliquid, an air-lift tube communicating at its upper and lower ends withupper and lower levels in said container, a burner submerged within saidtube so as to impart its heat and deliver its products of combustion toa lower portion of the liquid column in said tube, collector means forcollecting the products of combustion separating away from the liquiddelivered at the upper end her for said products.

5. Liquid circulatory system in which liquid is elevated in one part ofthe circuit by an elevator operating according to the airlift principle,comprising a closed container for liquid to be circulated, an air-lifttube, upper and lower connections between said tube and upper and lowerlevels of said container, an annular trough surrounding the upper end ofsaid tube, a cover device depending into and sealed by liquid in saidtrough, means for discharging combustion gases from said cover device,and a submersible burner submerged in the lower part of the liquidcolumn in said tube.

6. Apparatus for elevating liquids according to the air-lift principle,comprising an air lift tube adapted for separating a column of liquidfrom a body of such liquid, a continuous combustion burner comprising asubmersible flame nozzle, and burner-Snpporting means adapted forsupporting the burner with its nozzle submerged in said liquid and theflame thereof heating the liquid by direct contact therewith so thatproducts of combustion issuing from said nozzle heat and gasify saidcolumn for producing air-lift action therein.

7. Apparatus for elevating liquids comprising a container for a body ofliquid, an air lift tube adapted for separating a column of liquid froma body of such liquid and with its lower end communicating with suchcontainer, a continuous combustion burner comprising a submersible flamenozzle, and burner-supporting means adapted for supporting the burnerwith its nozzle submerged in the lower portion of the column of liquidin said tube and the flame thereof heating the liquid by direct contacttherewith so that the products of combustion continuously issuing fromsaid nozzle heat and gasify said column for producing air lift actiontherein.

8. An appartus for circulating liquid according to the air liftprinciple, comprising an air lift tube forming a defined column in partof a liquid circuit, a continuous combustion burner comprising asubmersible flame nozzle, and burner-supporting means adapted forsupporting the burner with its nozzle submer ed in said liquid and theflame thereof heating the liquid by direct contact therewith so thatproducts of combustion issuing from said nozzle heat and gasify saidcolumn for producing air-lift action therein.

C. FEATHERSTONE HAMMOND.

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